Cockroach Eradication through Community Engagement: Empowering Residents to Improve their Health

Exposure to indoor environmental contaminants is a major health risk factor, particularly in relation to allergic disease and asthma. In the United States alone, >25 million people suffer from asthma, with an estimated annual cost of >$81 billion. Of the indoor environmental risk factors associated with asthma, cockroach allergens are arguably the most important, especially for those of lower socio-economic status living in the inner city. Although the association between cockroach allergens and asthma has been known for decades, we still lack an effective, affordable, and sustainable cockroach IPM plan that can be easily implemented in affordable housing. Additionally, residents are rarely involved in pest management, thus denying them the opportunity to improve their lives. To address this problem, I propose to (1) evaluate public perception of cockroach management in affordable housing, (2) evaluate consumer- and professional-grade cockroach management tools, (3) determine the extent of cockroach insecticide resistance in affordable housing, and (4) develop and evaluate an accessible, resident centered cockroach management plan. If successful, this transformative project has the potential to reshape cockroach management in affordable housing, empowering residents to eradicate cockroaches, mitigate allergens, and improve their health.